T 4.32 Failure to dispatch a message

The exchange of data via E mail is fast and convenient, but not always reliable. Messages are lost on a regular basis due to hardware and software errors in the IT systems involved, or interference in transmission lines. These technical problems can have multiple reasons. Cables can be damaged, active components can be defective, or communications software can be incorrectly configured. E mails can also be lost because the recipients address was incorrect. The biggest problem in this case is that users are often not informed about failures to deliver E mail. Mechanisms designed to automatically indicate failures to deliver messages are not completely reliable.

Many E mail programs offer options such as "Confirm dispatch" or "Confirm receipt". However, such confirmations should not be overvalued. Often, these confirmations are not issued on the arrival of E mail at the recipient's workstation, but on arrival at the mail server. No indication is given of whether or not this server successfully forwards the E mail to the intended recipient. Furthermore, indication of successful transmission of E mail is often not provided if the corresponding option has not been activated on the recipient's workstation.